Advantages: Quite fast delievery times, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Europe stamps expensive

...what. The post gets to you, so what is the problem?? I requested some information from a telephone bank, based in Edinburgh one afternoon. The information was on the hallway floor the next morning. If that isn't speedy, I don't know what is. Postal prices are reasonable, but then again I do not have to pay out often for them. Letters to Continental Europe seem to cost a lot. 36p from here to Ireland. Ireland it costs 30 pence (now remember that Ireland has a different exchange rate, so 30p there is cheaper than here). Counter services haven't really changed that much but are quite good. Staff are only too pleased to help. Overall, the Post Office is good. Keep the colour red, as we don't want bold yellow of the Deutsche Post. Though, Ireland has a lovely shade of green....... Read review

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Advantages: So many. A magnet for immigrants over the centuries.
Disadvantages: Live here to find out!

.... Allegiance is technically to the crown and thus all are British citizens, but most of us will not call ourselves British. Rather we will call ourselves by the country of our birth or family heritage eg. English, Scottish or Welsh. Northern Ireland is rather more difficult to categorize. The community in that part of the UK is polarized between the Catholics and the Protestants. Most Protestants, who form the majority of the population, want to remain part of the UK and call themselves British rather than Irish. They are also often called Ulstermen or women and sometimes Unionists. A lot of the Catholics that form a very sizeable minority in N. Ireland would prefer that the North joins the south of Ireland to break free of the Crown. They will think of themselves as Irish, not British and are also referred to as Republicans. If the rest... Read review

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Advantages: inspirational poet
Disadvantages: political undertones

...When analyzing the writings of Seamus Heaney, it is often important to take into account the situation of the poet himself to enable the reader to put his poetry into context. Heaney's poetry is particularly influenced by the history and politics of his home country Ireland and a strong theme of politics runs through the majority of his works. The extent to which this theme is exploited varies from the implicit 'Digging' to the explicitly political poems such as 'The Ministry Of Fear.' Heaney was raised within a family and culture that very much relied on the land, the significance of which is represented in 'At A Potato Digging' and 'Requiem For The Croppies.' In 'Digging', Heaney expresses the admiration he feels for both his father and grandfather; "By God, the old man could handle a spade! / Just like his old man." "But I... Read review

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Advantages: Books where you can sympathise with the villain are always good ;)
Disadvantages: Keyes needs to stop making every character speak like a mad Irishwoman

...If you read one book by Marian Keyes, make it Sushi for Beginners, on the pure virtue that the characters don't meld into one indistinguishable puddle of human woe in this one (they have their own puddles). The book centres around three main characters, all with divergent lives and personalities, whose fortunes end up intersecting. There's the timid Irish girl wanting to make something of herself, meticulously organised but lacking in confidence, searching for her big break. There's the manicured superbitch on her way to the top - or that's what she thought, before she was rudely awakened from dreams of New York and flown off to Ireland to edit a new women's magazine. There's the frustrated housewife, unhappy with how mundane everything has become. Between them, these three women carry and shape the plot; there are a few guys thrown... Read review

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Advantages: Totally fascinating insight into this Irish sport
Disadvantages: A bit hard to find!!

...Final, and here you can find out about the truth behind what was later to be called “Bloody Sunday”. (not to be confused with the later “Bloody Sunday” in Derry during the recent “troubles” in the North) There is also an interactive display on the 1939 final, which was in the course of being played when the outbreak of the Second World War was actually announced. And yet another display telling you about the only time an All Ireland Final was played outside these shores. This was between Cavan and Kerry, and was played at the “Polo Grounds” in New York City in 1947, in commemoration of the “Great Famine” that saw so many Irish people emigrate to the USA. ~ ~ There are also exhibits outlining the history of women’s’ football and hurling, (camogie) which is one... Read review

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Advantages:
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...For friendly people, culture, beautiful scenery and mighty 'craic' Ireland is the place to be. For residents of Great Britain Ireland is easily accessible by via a short ferry crossing or around an hour (or less) by plane. Although the country has a reputation for being expensive this is no longer really true. The current exchange rates mean that for every pound sterling you can get an extra twenty or so pence in Irish money, so any price differences are compensated for. Many items are far cheaper, and in particular petrol is almost half the UK price. The greatest thing about a visit to Ireland is the friendliness of the people. You are completly overwhelmed by the welcome that you recieve in every pub, shop, hotel etc. and even when driving along the road people will stop and wave. I have been to Ireland five times now, and am returning... Read review

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Advantages: Entertainment; First-hand experience
Disadvantages: Negative media portrayal

...Why are the Orange Marches so controversial? Er…Politics?…the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland?…Religion…Events in Northern Ireland? Where do you think I could have put this opinion? Actually, probably in all of them but I opted for the latter. I am an English atheist, christened as a Methodist: my friend in Northern Ireland is Protestant and just wants a quiet life: her sister is part of the Orange Women’s Order and either wants Catholics to shut up or move back “to their part of Ireland”: A firm loyalist. Now you know. I was in Northern Ireland recently for the 12 July marches. Anyone living outside Northern Ireland knows about the Orange Marching season: stand-offs at Drumcree; Orange parades not being able to march down the Garvaghy Road; sporadic fighting in Belfast…... Read review

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Advantages: Unusal theme
Disadvantages: Shallow attitude

...is based around one joke: “look at me, aren’t I wacky travelling around with a fridge!” I picked up the book hoping to see an off-beat view of Ireland, and to be introduced to some memorable characters. What I learnt was that if you go into a pub in Ireland pulling a fridge on a trolley, you will meet drunken men/women who will buy you a drink. If you are lucky you might get invited to stay for a lock-in – when more drunken men/women will buy you more drinks. Tony Hawks never manages to lift the story to give a real insight into the life in Ireland, and the essential differences between the Irish and the English. He manages to get a regular slot chatting on a morning radio show about his trip, which means that many of his lifts come from people who have heard the show and are looking out for him – which somehow detracts from his argument... Read review

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...When in Dublin why not visit one of the cities most busiest buildings – this buildings aside being a everyday bank is also a location for us visitors who are looking to explore the history of the city. The building was used as Irelands parliament building ( the House of Lords ) until it was purchased by the Bank of Ireland and converted into a everyday running bank ( the Bank of Irelands head quarters ) Despite being used as a bank a tour is run showing the visitor the other side of the story of this beautiful building.... Read review

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Advantages: HELP HELP HELP
Disadvantages: A total abuse of women by the courts

...his child, the younger of her two children. Cara has been in Northern Ireland for a full year since retuning last August and has tried to challenge The Hague Convention at the highest possible level by putting her case to the High Court in Belfast. Unfortunately as in other cases in Northern Ireland women who have lived abroad, the High Court does not address the issue of the abuse that Cara or other women have experienced and which made them flee from life threatening situations. Marie Brown, Area Management Co-ordinator of Foyle Women’s Aid today issued an appeal, “This young woman is being returned to the US to a state where nobody cares about the abuse that has happened to her and the significant harm that has been recorded by a number of agencies here to her children perpetrated by this man. She and her older child have... Read review

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